Santa and Mrs. Claus joined area residents for a walk around the snowy Independence Park on Friday evening. The annual “Run for a Claus” event drew about 30 people to run or walk the festive trails at Light Up the Night.

MARSHALL — The temperature was frosty, and quite a few people gathered around the fire at Light Up the Night on Friday. But the visitors were still ready to get into the Christmas spirit by dashing through the snow at Independence Park.

“It supports the community, and it’s a way to give some holiday cheer,” said Kristen Moses, one of the organizers at the “Run for a Claus” event Friday. The one-mile run or walk took area residents through the decorated trails at the park, and helped raise funds for Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care and the Marshall Area YMCA.

Moses said about 30 people had signed up for this year’s run. “We’re super thankful for that,” she said. CCM Health also donated hot chocolate to warm participants up after jogging around Independence Park’s three ponds.

The people who came out to the park Friday were of all ages and skill levels. Families and groups of friends walked or ran the route, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Some runners, like Owen Roberts, came prepared for the wintry weather.

“I’ve got two layers on,” Roberts said.

Jordan Johnson made sure his running gear was festive, donning a pair of light-up glasses and a necklace of blinking Christmas light bulbs. Johnson and Zachary Ziolkowski said the Christmas theme was part of the fun of the event.

“It’s just festive. It gets you right in the holiday spirit,” Ziolkowski said.